Species Spotlight

Is the Hercules Beetle the Strongest Beetle in the World?

Hercules was a demigod renowned for his great strength and determination. It is just these attributes that garnered the Hercules Beetle its respectable moniker. However, is the Hercules Beetle the strongest animal in the world?

Does the Goliath Beetle Pack a Punch?

The Goliath beetle is the heaviest and one of the strongest beetles in the world. It is a native of Africa, and these beetles are so large that children often tie a string around their necks and walk them like dogs.

Not Your Average Jellyfish: The Box Jellyfish

Box jellyfish have the unfortunate distinction of being feared as extremely lethal creatures. The Australian Box Jellyfish, the most famous of the box jellies, has a sting that is so excruciatingly painful that multiple stings can result in a victim losing...

Important Facts and Life Cycle of Cicadas

With over 2,500 species of cicada scattered across the globe, it’s a wonder that there isn't more misinformation about these unique insects. They are extremely loud and for some reason people equate this to danger (probably because insects...

Swan Lake - White Swan Habitat and Reproduction

Did you know that the swan you see in Tennessee may be a different species than the white swan that appears in the Northern section of the country? There are several types of white swans, each with distinct differences, if you know what to look for...

See Ya Later Alligator - In a While Dwarf Crocodile

Deep in the swampy forests of West Africa, lies the dwarf crocodile, a miniature version of their large crocodile relatives. The crocodiles are so tiny they are not hunted for their skin, but for food. This has resulted in fewer of them remaining in their...

From Nests to Burrows: The Habitats of Owls

Owls are interesting creatures. They seldom make their own nests; rather, they take over the nests or homes of other creatures. A very ingenious bird, owls live in trees as well as in burrows in the ground or cavities on rocky mountain faces.

The Whale Shark: Gentle Ocean Giant

The world’s biggest known fish is the whale shark. The immense filter feeding fish dwarfs all others in the sea. This gentle giant isn't a fish to be feared though (unless you are a tiny plankton or schooling fish). People routinely...

Invasion of the Asian Carp Jumping Fish in the United States

Fish are a very important food resource and commodity in the world today. In the right habitats, several species--such as the Asian carp--provide food for hundreds of thousands of people. Asian carp in the US, however, have produced many problems since...

Reticulated Python - Largest Snake in the World

Depending on how you wish to measure the size of a snake, the largest in the world is either the reticulated python (Python reticulatus) or the green anaconda. The Guinness Book of World Records cites the world’s largest snake to be a reticulated...